Bank Hapoalim = DIVORCED AND GONE from 2nd Largest Protestant Church in America — United Methodist Church’s $20 Billion Pension Fund Portfolio and 13 Million members = Role in financing settlements = Divested from two Israeli banks and excluded five major Israeli banks from future investments.

United Methodist Kairos Response (UMKR) = Group that advocates within the church for Palestinian rights, hailed the measure as “the first time a major church pension fund has acted to preclude investment in Israeli banks that sustain Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land.” + “We commend the pension fund for taking this significant step in disassociating from the illegal occupation of Palestinian land. But as United Methodist policy opposes the occupation, this is only a first step towards ending our financial complicity in the ongoing oppression of the Palestinian people.” — UMKR co-chair Reverend Michael Yoshii

ISRAEL FACES MORE BAD NEWS = “Only a first step” = 7 more Coming soon and 39 total ineligible companies = 4 more church resolutions in May 2016 against Israel = Divest from other companies complicit in the Israeli occupation.

2012 METHODIST Church adopted a policy calling for the boycott of goods made in Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian land in violation of international law.

BDS = For two years the Presbyterian Church USA + the United Church of Christ = Adopted divestment despite well-funded opposition from Israel lobby groups.